Metal stud punch system

ABSTRACT

A portable metal stud punching system with a controller. The punch system may be set for a desired number of punches, N. When N equals 0, N may be reset though the entry of a code to reset N or increase the value of N to a number greater than 0.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of Application Ser. No. 10/917,028, Filed 08/11/2004 by the present inventor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to building construction, and more particularly to the construction of and method of manufacturing tabbed structural members for tilt-up style wall construction and the control of thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tilt-up building construction is well known in the construction industry. Tilt-up thin-shell construction is a method of construction where the walls or panels are formed horizontally on a building slab or foundation from light gauge metal framing embedded in thin (1.5″ to 2″) concrete. Thin-shell construction is distinguished from traditional tilt-up construction which uses steel rebar inside of 6″ to 8″ thick concrete walls, rather than thinner concrete with external steel. There are obvious advantages to the newer thin-shell systems in material savings and ease of transporting and handling lighter panels. When the panels are dried and finished they are simply tilted up to become vertical walls.

Another method employs pre-fabrication of the building panels that can be either constructed on or off-site and then moved into a specific position to form the walls, floors and roofs of a building structure These pre-fabricated panels are reinforced and joined to each other by metal studs and joists embedded in the panels.

It is generally recognized that the overall strength of a prefabricated building panel is, in large part, dependent upon the integrity of the bond that is created between the metal stud and the concrete panel after the concrete has hardened. For example, a stud edge surface in simple contact with the surface of the concrete panels results in a relatively weak bond and, therefore, a relatively weak panel. Accordingly, it has become a common technique to provide projections on the edge of the metal stud that extend into the wet concrete therefore securely anchoring the metal stud to the concrete panel when the concrete hardens.

By way of example, projections can be provided directly on the flange of a metal stud to anchor the stud to the panel. In one know method, the metal stud is shaped like a common “C” channel and has a planar central web and a pair of substantially perpendicular edge flanges. However, one edge flange has a series of spaced, longitudinally shaped cut-outs along its length, thereby permitting the cut-out portion of the edge flange to bend upwards and form a projection which can be embedded within the concrete material of the panel. A reinforcing mesh or the like can be mechanically attached to the projections so that the mesh is positioned at the proper depth within the panel. The drawback with these cutouts in the studs is that common “C” channel must be either specially modified or specially manufactured which adds to the cost of labor and material of the finished panel. One solution is the SteelCrete Punch Press available from Simple Building Systems, Inc., 27280 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 202, Temecula, Calif. 92590. The SteelCrete Punch Press has a series of hydraulic punches that when a length of C channel is inserted into the press, the cutouts or tabs are punched and formed. The problem with this system is that the SteelCrete Punch Press is so large that it is prohibitive to take to the job site, because of the heavy Punch Press the studs have to be shipped twice. From the stud manufacture to the Punch Press, unloaded, punched, reloaded and shipped to the client. This extra shipping and handling significantly raises costs. Additionally, the higher cost of this press makes it not feasible for the smaller scale contractor.

Simple Building Systems, Inc. does supply pre-punched studs however, since the studs are specially modified or manufactured at an off-site manufacturing facility, the studs are not readily susceptible to further modifications or adjustments to meet unusual or special needs which may arise in the field.

Pre-punched studs also suffer from the additional storage space requirements and difficulties in stacking and shipping. With the pre-punched studs, the cut outs created prevent orderly stacking, increase the required volume for materials storage, are easily damaged or bent and make the normally linear metal stud difficult to handle.

Prior methods of forming metal studs for use with tilt up construction include sequentially cutting and then shaping tabs on metal studs. Such methods are generally not portable and not usable at a job site, as the linear travel required to have both cutting stations and shaping stations in sequence mechanically requires a travel greater than the width of a conventional vehicle and trailer. As the metal studs being punched may be of any length, it is desirable to be able to punch the studs in a manner so as not to interfere with a vehicle towing a punching unit, making prior art portable units impractical.

Another potential solution is described in a patent issued to Ruiz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,972 where a reinforced structural member is a two-piece assembly comprising a structural member and a reinforcing member. The reinforcing member is fastened to the structural member such that a series of projections extend from the reinforcing member are engaged in the building panel. Although this is a partial solution to the shipping problem, since less material is shipped, it requires significant additional labor to fasten the reinforcing member to the structural member raising costs.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a system and method of manufacturing a structural member that is a modification of a standard C channel metal stud used in the manufacture of thin shell tilt-up style construction panels that is easily and economically punched to form the tabs needed for embedment and attachment to the concrete.

Further there is a need for a system of economically punching tabs in a C channel metal stud that is compact, simple to operate and portable such that it may be readily used on a job site.

There is further need to be able to control the use of such a system to permit only licensed or authorized use of such and to be able to remotely adjust the available usage of such a system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method of modifying a standard C channel stud used in the manufacture of tilt-up style construction. By punching and forming a tab or series of tabs on one of the two parallel sides of the C channel, the tab becomes a concrete embedment with known engineering values of withdrawal and shear force. The tab also provides a ready point for reinforcing mesh to be easily attached and held in place with the tabs prior to pouring the cement or other wall construction material.

In the preferred embodiment, the entire device is such that a single punch and die are manipulated by a pair of hydraulic units such that the device may be readily mounted on a portable station, such as a trailer and towed and used as needed at a job site.

In the preferred embodiment, the operation of the device, including the operation of the hydraulic units is enabled or disabled by a controller. The controller records the number of punches that have been made and allows the metal stud punching system to make subsequent punches until a determined numerical limit is reached. The numerical limit is set based on a code entered into the controller's keypad. This allows the owner of the device to sell a specified number of punches to the device's operators. This also permits the remote entry of an authorizing code to adjust numerical limit of available punches.

The metal stud punching system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has an alignment frame with an adjustable infeed alignment port in a first side and an adjustable outfeed alignment port in an opposite side. There is a punch and die positioned within the alignment frame. A length of metal stud is inserted through the infeed alignment port, the ports are wide enough for different stud widths with one vertical side of the metal stud disposed between the punch and the die. A first hydraulic unit is attached to the punch and moves a first direction thereby inserting the punch into the die and punching a tab out of the vertical side of the metal stud. A second hydraulic unit moves the punch assembly in a direction perpendicular to the first direction of the first hydraulic unit. After the tab has been punched, the second hydraulic unit advances the metal stud by sliding the punch assembly a distance equal to the desired space between tabs. With the perpendicular movement, the punch inserted in the metal stud is dragging in the stud and pushing it out the outfeed alignment port. In the preferred embodiment, the die has one open side allowing the tab to slide through the die enabling the die to remain stationary rather needing to retract both the punch and the metal stud to avoid the tab. The punch is retracted by the first hydraulic unit and the punch assembly is returned to its original position by the second hydraulic unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above description and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the punch, die, and steel stock demonstrating the step-by-step punching and forming of the tab on the steel stock according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the punch system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the punch system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting the sequence of operation of the punch system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a depiction of the preferred embodiment mounted as a trailerable unit for transportation and use at a job site.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a punched metal stud.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram depicting the sequence of operation of the controller according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the figures, like elements retain their indicators throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of Punch 104, Die 106, and Steel Stock 102 demonstrating the step-by-step punching and forming of Tab 118 (FIG. 6) on Steel Stock 102 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, Punch 104 is a four-staged punch. In Step 1, as is typical with most punch and die systems, Punch 104 has a Shear Edge 109 that is closely aligned with Die Shear Edge 110 thereby minimizing the deflection of Steel Stock 102 and making a clean cut into Steel Stock 102. In Step 2, as Punch 104 punches into Steel Stock 102, First Surface 120 of Punch 104 deforms Steel Stock 102 by an angle Alpha (α). In Step 3, Punch 104 continues toward Die 106 and Second Surface 121 deforms Steel Stock 102 by an angle Beta (β). In order to create an approximate 90 degree angle, Alpha and Beta sum to approximately 90 degrees. In the preferred embodiment, Alpha is smaller angle than Beta. However, it has been contemplated to make Alpha and Beta the same or close to the same size.

In Step 4, Punch 104 continues to move toward Die 106 and Third Surface 122 deforms Steel Stock 102 by an angle Theta (θ). And, finally, in Step 5, Fourth Surface 123 deforms Steel Stock 102 by an angle Phi (φ) thereby completing formation of Tab 118. As previously discussed with Alpha and Beta, angles Theta and Phi will sum to approximately 90 degrees with Theta being smaller than Phi in the preferred embodiment.

By creating the two angles in the tab it becomes, a concrete embedment with known engineering values of withdrawal and shear force that is part of the Steel Stock 102. This enables the framed stud that has been punched to attach to the concrete that is placed into the panel form thereby creating a concrete thin-shell tilt-up style wall, or a prefabricated ceiling or floor.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of Punch System 200 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Punch System 200 is affixed to Support Deck 204.

Alignment Frame 206 is both an inner and outer frame for Punch System 200 as well as an alignment device for feeding C channel stock into Punch System 200. A section of C channel is fed into Infeed Alignment Port 208 with one of the two parallel sides of the C-channel Steel Stock 102 between Punch 104 and Die 106. The C channel is slid out Outfeed Alignment Port 209. Hydraulic Unit 202 slides Punch 104 into Die 106 thereby punching and forming a tab on the C channel stud.

In the preferred embodiment, Die 106 is constructed with Die Open End 207 so that with Punch 104 still inside of Die 106, Second Hydraulic Unit 210 pushes, and thereby feeds, C-channel Steel Stock 102 a predetermined distance through Outfeed Alignment Port 209. Hydraulic Unit 202 is then retracted, thereby removing Punch 104 from Die 106. Second Hydraulic Unit 210 this returns the punch assembly to the original position to punch and is ready to punch the next tab. The Upper Sidewall and Lower Sidewall 222 of Die 106 are preferable slightly flared toward the Die Open End 207 to avoid the jamming or lodging of the tab created in the Die 106.

The ability to punch a single tab allows the unit to be small in size making it both portable to the job site as well as able to punch a single tab for a specialized application. The auto feed mechanism created by Second Hydraulic Unit 210 advancing and retracting Punch 104 can be adjusted to accommodate varying spacing between tab requirements. The width of the infeed 208 and outfeed 209 ports can accommodate adjusting guides for punching different stud width sizes.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the Punch System 200 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Alignment Frame 206 is shown with Infeed Alignment Port 208 exposing Punch 104 from the side. The width of the infeed 208 and outfeed 209 ports can accommodate adjusting guides for punching different stud width sizes. C-channel Steel Stock 102 is shown in phantom positioned with one its two parallel sides in punching position between Punch 104 and Die 106 (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting the sequence of operation of Punch System 200 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Block 402 accepts an input, N, that sets to number of tabs to be punched. Block 404 then accepts an input, D, that sets the distance the C-channel Steel Stock 102 will be advanced between punches leaving a space the length of D between each tab.

In Block 406, a section of C-channel Steel Stock 102 is inserted through Infeed Alignment Port 203 with one of the two parallel sides of Steel Stock 102 positioned between Punch 104 and Die 106. Control moves to Block 408 where the system checks for Steel Stock 102 to be in place. If there is no Steel Stock 102 in position to be punched, control moves back to Block 406 for Steel Stock 102 insertion. If there is Steel Stock 102 in place, control moves to Block 410 and a tab is punched in Steel Stock 102 by the actuation of Hydraulic Unit 202.

With Punch 104 still in Steel Stock 102, control moves to Block 412 where Second Hydraulic Unit 210 assisted by Punch 104 advances Steel Stock 102 a distance, D. In Block 414, Hydraulic Unit 202 is retracted and Punch 104 is returned to its open position and Block 416 returns Punch 104 to its position prior to advancing distance, D. In Block 418, tab counter N is decremented by one. Block 420 queries the value of N. If N is equal to zero, punching ceases. If N is greater than zero, control returns to Block 408 and punching continues until N equals zero. Blocks 408, 410, 412, 414 and 416 in sequence are cycled until the end of the Steel Stock 102, Block 408 senses there is no Steel Stock 102 in place and returns to Block 406 stopping and waiting for another piece Steel Stock 102 to be inserted into the machine. It is anticipated and disclosed that for convenience and ease of use in a best mode, N will be set to a specific number for most operations and adjusted as needed for specific needs. With N set at an extremely large number, the machine in standard mode will maintain operation so long as Steel Stock 102 is provided.

FIG. 5 is a representation of the Punch System 200 mounted as Trailered Punch Unit 500. Trailer Hitch 504 is quickly mounted to the trailer ball of a truck, car or van enabling the punching system to be portable to the job site. With this portable system, double shipping costs are eliminated and last minute design changes are easily accommodated at the job site minimizing the delay in ordering pre-punched studs or punching the metal studs back at the shop.

FIG. 6 shows Steel Stock 102 in its punched state. A series of Tabs 118 are shown punched down one side of Steel Stock 102.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram depicting the sequence of operation of the Controller 701 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Block 701 allows the system to be set for N punches. Block 702 represents the operation of the punch machine. Block 704 reduces the available punches to the user by 1. Block 708 checks the value N to determine if another punch is available to the user, if N has not reached 0, then the stud punch is available for use.

When N is equal to 0, the Controller 708 does not allow a punch to be made and passes control to Block 710, to permit the entry of code C. This prevents further operation of Punch System 200 until N, is set to a number greater than 0. On entry of code C, code C is validated 720 and if valid, the corresponding value of code C is added to N 712 and the stud punch is available for use.

If the code is not valid, the sequence ends until a valid code is entered to permit the system to return to use.

In the preferred embodiment code C may be entered 710 though conventional means such as by a keypad.

Though the flow control provided depicts code entry only on an N=0 condition, it is understood and disclosed that code entry and the function of increasing the value of N is not dependant on the N=0 state.

Wherein the terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow. 

1. A metal stud punch system, wherein the improvement comprises: a controller having a mechanism which enables or disables the operation of said metal stud punch system; and a counter having a mechanism for recording the number of punches said metal punch system has made; a limit on the number of punches said metal stud punch system can make; wherein, said controller allows said metal stud punch system to make a single punch when said counter has recorded a number of punches less than said limit, and disables operation of said metal stud punch system when said counter has recorded a number of punches equal to or greater than said limit.
 2. The metal stud punch system of claim I further comprising: an input means for inputting a code for adjusting said limit on the number of punches said metal stud punch can make. 